Understanding Feminism

From a Human Rights Perspective

Let’s start with the myths …
Some think feminism is: But feminism is more complex, it seeks to…

The female equivalent of machismo Achieve equality between men and

Antithesis or male chauvinism women, favoring non-violence

Hating men because they Dismantle male privileges

Men Haters hate women (misogyny) and achieve equality

Having supposed attributes Have diversity of attributes,

Femininity inherent to women because not stereotypes
of their sex
Feminine Being spiritual guardians Avoid mandates based on
Superiority of humanity sex stereotypes

Being born a woman and Motivate women to fight and

Inherent
becoming a feminist achieve women's human rights
in all automatically

Accepting Taking pride in caring and Recognize intersecting forms of

all sacrificing for others discrimination, centering on
women’s rights
Sexual Sexualizing all conducts Liberate from sexual submission
“Liberation” between men and women and abuse from men
Thinking that there is an Eradicate roles and stereotypes of
Feeling inherent feminine stereotype subordination of women to men
Female (role, appearance)

Against Hating family as a patriarchal Promote equal relationships, rights

unit that does not recognize and responsibilities within the couple
Family
women and children

Abortion as Women who hate maternity Decriminalize women seeking abortion

with no regards to the and offer options to those who need to
a Sport
human cost interrupt pregnancy

Against Motherhood as submission to Promote protections and rights for this

Motherhood capitalism and patriarchy important social role of women

an opinion an ideology a religion o sect an interest group

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 Although there are many wonderful
philosophers, writers and theorists However,
who have written on feminist theory, there is ONE incontrovertible
it seems like there are many branches standard based on
and even contradictory positions international Human Rights law

¡It´s called
CEDAW!
The Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (1979)

CEDAWinvites us to:
To take all measures to ensure the full development and advancement of women,
for the purpose of guaranteeing the exercise and enjoyment of their human rights
and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with men. (Art. 2)

This Convention seeks to protect half The Committee's General Recommendations

of humanity:
• Modifying stereotypes and
socio-cultural patterns (Art.5)
• Promoting common responsibility for
children and marriage (Art. 5 and 16)
• Protecting maternity (Art. 5)
• Suppressing trafficking and
exploitation of prostitution (Art. 6)
• Promoting women in the political
and public life of the country
(Art. 7 and 8)
• Acquiring, changing or retaining
nationality (Art. 9)
• Accessing education, sports, loans
and recreation (Art. 10 and 13)
• The right to employment and equal pay (Art. 11)
• Participating and benefiting from
rural development (Art. 14)
• Accessing health care, planning, nutrition even
during pregnancy and lactation (Art. 12)
• Exercising legal capacity and
administering property (Art. 15)
update the Convention, among other rights:
• Trafficking of Women and Girls in Migration
(GR 38, 2020)
• Refugee and Asylum-seeking
Women (GR 32, 2014)
• Women in Conflict (GR 30, 2013)
• Women and Health (GR 24, 1999)
• Rights of Girls and Women
to Education (GR 36, 2017)
• Rural Women (GR 34, 2016)
• Women in Politics
and Public Life (GR 23, 1997)
• Disabled Women (GR 18, 1991)
• Unpaid and Domestic Work (GR 16, 17, 1991)
• Rights of Girl-child (GR 31-2014)
• Older Women (GR 27-2010)
• Violence Against Women (GR 35-2017, 19-1992, 12-1989)
• Access to Justice (GR 33-2016)
• Migrant workers (GR 26-2009)
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 CEDAW developed important concepts:

1 Discrimination Based on Sex SEX Temporary Special Measures 3

Biological
differences
Any distinction, exclusion and restriction Measures designed to correct
which has the effect of impairing or past or present consequences
nullifying the human rights of women, of discrimination related to
on the basis of equality of men historic and structural problems
and women. (Art. 1-2 and GR. 28) GenDeR faced by women. (Art. 4, GR. 25)

Subordination
2 Substantive Equality based on Violence Against Women 4
stereotypes
The absence of any form of Violence exercised against women
discrimination against women for [Par. 5, GR 28] because they are born women
being women, and equal opportunities, or because it affects them
benefits and results as those disproportionately, justifying the
enjoyed by men. (Art. 4 and 5, GR. 28) subordination of women to men. (GR. 12, 19, 35)

REMEMBER that Substantive Equality:

The starting point ... and the environment

must be equal... allows women to
reach equal results

Values differences between women and men and
affirms their equality in human dignity
Ensures the absence of direct (in law and practice) and
indirect (in results) discrimination
Corrects all arbitrary, unfair and unjustifiable practice
related to unequal power relationships
Eliminates stereotypes, harmful practices, sexism and
violence against women
Provides similar opportunities to those available to
men and access to them
Offers similar outcomes and benefits considering
biological difference among sexes
Offers protection, sanction and redress for
prior discrimination
Offers representation, redistribution of power and
resources, considering prior discrimination

Under CEDAW
Feminism

IS
A human rights movement that
focuses on women's rights
It seeks to ensure that sex does It does not attack the dignity
not justify a deficit or arbitrary of others (but neither
attribution of rights does it take on their struggles)
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 A feminist perspective based on human rights, must include:

Analyzing Fighting Promoting Achieving

unequal power related
to being born a woman
and which makes her
part of a social class
subordinate to men
for the abolition of any system
that subordinates/oppresses
women (that stereotypes,
erases, discriminates, excludes,
objectifies, commercializes,
abuses, exploits)
the emancipation of women's full access
women from subjugation to the recognition,
to men through general, exercise and enjoyment
differentiated and of their human rights
temporary special
measures* to achieve
substantive equality

MEASURES needed by women:

General Measures Differentiated Measures Temporary Special Measures

reservED

MP

They improve the general situation They consider needs related to They aim to solve historic structural
of women and girls in line with biological differences problems (e.g. by quota systems,
fundamental human rights (e.g. protecting maternity, pregnancy, preferential hiring, resource
(e.g. education, health, employment) menstruation and menopause) allocation, single sex spaces)

HOW TO SUPPORT the feminist agenda based on human rights?

A Use CEDAW Confirm D

and its standard principles based that the initiative works to end
on international law. discrimination on the basis of sex
(including all forms of violence
B Use WOMEN-centered language against women) and contributes
to achieving substantive equality.
avoiding confusions embedded
in the term GENDER.

C Explicitly reject Support E

initiatives that endorse any form, practice, all types of initiatives, but especially those
law or industry that subordinates/ that strengthen the largest and most
oppresses women. vulnerable groups of women.
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